On the afternoon of Aug. 27, 2025, 23-year-old Robin Westman entered Annunciation Catholic School and fired his weapon, killing two children and injuring 17 others. This marks the 44th school shooting in the United States this year.
Catching the attention of the nation, this also caught the eyes of Students Demand Action. This organization is collectivized by a variety of factions of young activists focused on ending gun violence throughout the United States through the means of protest, public advocacy and student-led walkouts.
Here at Sage Creek High School, two such students decided to take action and speak up against the issue that is gun violence: Genevieve Tai and Emma Park. Working along with the Students Demand Action organization, they coordinated a walkout along with a myriad of other academic institutions across the United States on Sept. 5.
“We are part of an organization called Students Demand Action, and after a shooting at Annunciation Catholic on Aug. 27, nationwide high schools are walking out to protest gun violence and to call for more legislation for gun control,” Tai said.
Both Tai and Park emphasized their passion for their activism with a determination to empower students to speak against the very issue that threatens their safety, as well as sharing empathy with those affected by firearms.
“We are just super passionate about protecting our friends and our students all around the country, and we thought this would be a good way to join the cause and help out around the world,” said Kaiya Rubio, a fellow student.
The walkout at Sage Creek attracted the attention of many students who demanded that action be taken. At the walkout, students participated by holding signs and chanting. Some students became the forefront of attention, with the entire crowd falling silent. Skylar Roy, The Sage’s co-producer, participated in the walkout and drew particular attention at the event.
“Children under the age of 18 should never have to worry about coming home to their parents, and coming home safely, and having to do lockdown drills at school,” said Roy as she gave a speech standing above the crowd.
Within the crowd, many were asked about their thoughts on the Second Amendment of the Constitution.
According to the Library of Congress, the Second Amendment states: “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
“I think the Second Amendment is— obviously, people have the right to defend themselves, but at this point, it’s gotten to the point where kids are not safe in school, not safe in elementary schools, and they’re just dying all the time all over the country,” Park stated.
Other protesters had also commented on this question. For example, Lee Rodriguez, a protester at the event, provided a similar rejoinder.
“Yes, I do,” he said. “I think that nobody should be scared to go to a school, a mall, a church, or anywhere. They should not be scared. And that there can— you can have a gun, but they should be more largely regulated than they are.”
Lee added to his stance by stating that constitutional amendments are, by nature, malleable and not exempt from immutability.
“Someone said this: it literally means to amend. So if the amendments are a problem, we should be able to amend them to where people are safe,” said Lee
He paraphrased a quote from a progressive political commentator, Dean Withers. In a livestream, Dean Withers debated with a guest who argued that amendments are immutable.
“What is an amendment, Caleb? You’re amending it. You’re changing it. An amendment is definitionally, a change,” said Withers.
The alteration of amendments has occurred within the history of the nation. One such occasion was the ratification of the 18th Amendment and the 21st Amendment. The 18th Amendment was the prohibition of alcohol, and the 21st was the repeal of the former. Alterations of amendments are within the legal boundaries of the Constitution.
Students Demand Action’s goal, along with the volunteers who support the organization, is to convince members of the legislature to push bills to protect the lives of students.
“Ultimately, our movement exists to end gun violence and save lives,” Students Demand Action’s website states.
“I also work with a local congressman,” Tai stated. “Mike Levin, a Democratic congressman for the 49th District.”
As students continue to voice their concerns and fears, violence across the country continues. Mere days after the nationwide walkouts, the shooting at Evergreen High School on Sept. 10 and the assassination of conservative political debater Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University took place the same day. While tragedies like these continue, organizations like Students Demand Action, as well as everyday students like Neila Dunigan, cling to hope for change.
“Not much has changed right now,” Dunigan said. “The fact that you can show the world that you’re angry, you can show the world that you have feelings about this issue, and that you’re not going to be complacent. I think it does make a difference.”
